Money in the streets: Belgium burglary gone wrong

Money heist: Belgian authorities are trying to hunt down the Zedelgem residents who stole money from a robbery gone bad.

The problem began when burglars broke into a home and made off with a safe containing roughly a million euros. After being chased by police, the burglars threw the safe into the street. The safe burst open, allowing money to scatter over an area of 100 meters. Local residents scrambled to grab what they could of the stolen cash. One woman was even seen with a broom sweeping the money into her home.

Police immediately confiscated the money from people who were too slow to make off with the stolen loot. The mayor offered allowing people to return the cash anonymously to his mailbox without any consequences, but thieves tried to steal the mailbox. Now authorities say those who do not return the money could face two years in jail. So far, officials have retrieved about half a million euros.